Pair of faux dentists pleaded guilty in corrupt organizations scheme

COURTHOUSE — A couple women who prosecutors say wanted to play dentist pleaded guilty to theft, reckless endangerment and operating an unauthorized practice of dentistry, in Montgomery County Court Wednesday.

Cheryl Laing and Jessica Gullickson, roommates from Broomall, pleaded guilty to the same charges, stemming from an after-hours, makeshift dentistry practice they were operating out of the Smilz 4 Life dental office on Old Lancaster Avenue in Bryn Mawr.

According to court documents, by day, both women worked at Smilz 4 Life – Laing, 46, as a dental assistant and Gullickson, 25, as a receptionist. By night, and when the regular business hours were over, both women conspired to keep the doors open and hold themselves out as licensed dentists, offering “drastically reduced” prices for procedures to uninsured patients.

Prosecutors said Gullickson and Laing performed risky operations like root canals, tooth extractions, installing crowns and braces, taking X-rays, dispensing medications and injecting numbing agents, while unqualified to do any of it.

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The owner of Smilz 4 Life, being a licensed practitioner of dentistry, had no knowledge of the after-hours dealings and cooperated with police throughout the course of the investigation.

“Ms. Gullickson is an individual who has no prior criminal record, no prior criminal contacts, and in the course of her employment at the office, she worked hard, everyday, and cherished many of the dentist’s clients, very well,” said defense attorney David Mischak.

“At sentencing, we’ll hear from a number of the clients from the dentist’s office who will speak very highly of her. She’s going to show the court she’s been a very good citizen and a very good person, and ultimately, we hope that’s what she’s judged on.”

According to an affidavit, the women advertised the after-hours dentistry through word of mouth in the Bryn Mawr area, reportedly telling prospective customers they “could perform virtually all dental procedures for uninsured patients at a drastically reduced price.”

They reportedly accepted cash payments only and kept no records of their patients or their patients’ dental histories.

One patient reported to police that he was in “excruciating pain” for the 45 minutes it took Laing to extract his tooth. Another patient indicated that during her root canal, Laing left the room and told Gullickson to “find the root.”

“My client took the steps today to assume her responsibility in this case, and in doing so, she has begun the process of putting this behind her,” said Laing’s attorney, Jason Donoghue.

Neither woman is still employed with Smilz 4 Life. Sentencing is scheduled for 90 days from now.